Roasted my clutch at the drag strip

markslc1 · 07-11-2020, 01:40 AM

08 128i FBO. 70kmiles. I do autox and track days a few times per year. Lately I noticed the car was not necessarily pushing me back as hard on the 1-2 shift but generally solid pulling out of corners and auto crossing.

I hit the strip for the first time in this car. First 3 runs felt great. On #4 when I hit second the revs rose fast but the car didn't pull. Switched to 3rd, same thing. Got out of the throttle and shifted to 4th and coasted out. I cooled the car down and drove home with no issues.

Classic symptoms of needing a new clutch? Gear changes are smooth. Should I check anything else before assuming I need a clutch kit?

b1aze · 07-11-2020, 05:35 AM

If revs rose and speed didn’t, your clutch is slipping.

Might as well drop in a LWFW while you’re in there

desertman123 · 07-11-2020, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1aze

If revs rose and speed didn’t, your clutch is slipping.

Might as well drop in a LWFW while you’re in there

Is there a medium-weight LWFW? I want lighter but I don't want to murder the daily-drivability of my car with a 6pounder

b1aze · 07-11-2020, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertman123

Is there a medium-weight LWFW? I want lighter but I don't want to murder the daily-drivability of my car with a 6pounder

Looks like JBRacing and this one are in the 12-13lb range. Not sure if this one is an exact fit but it looks like similar compatible cars swap over.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...iABEgKknfD_BwE

markslc1 · 07-11-2020, 07:50 PM

I'm not into the lightweight flywheel thing. What about an updated disk or plate? Was reading that the 06 330i disk would be considered an upgrade of sorts.

chris_flies · 07-20-2020, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertman123

Is there a medium-weight LWFW? I want lighter but I don't want to murder the daily-drivability of my car with a 6pounder

The only one I’ve found is the JB racing one at some 13 pounds. Valeo single-mass would be my go-to for a street car though. Me being a crazy kid who has no idea what he’s getting himself into wants something even lighter than the JBR flywheel, but only one was made that I know of and hassmaschine has it.

juld0zer · 07-21-2020, 07:11 AM

I would never put a SMF or lightweight flywheel in this car. The gearbox has quite a lot of rollover noise that will most likely become apparent after ditching the stock DMF

markslc1 · 07-21-2020, 08:43 AM

I'm pulling the clutch out later this week. Found a local shop that resurfaces the dual mass flywheel. He did the flywheel on my last two M3's that were dual mass and had great results. Fingers crossed that my flywheel has no excessive play or cracked. .

Suprgnat · 07-21-2020, 08:59 AM

What's the big deal about lightweight flywheels? I ran an 8.7 pounder (in a Saturn of all things) no problem. I was eyeballing the JB Racing 12 pounder as it fits my driving style and the car has plenty of torque.

Why shouldn't I?

Quote:

Originally Posted by juld0zer

The gearbox has quite a lot of rollover noise

What's "rollover noise"?

asbrr · 07-22-2020, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

What's "rollover noise"?

That's the mechanical racket you can hear sometimes when say idling the car in neutral and clutch is out. Noise reduces greatly when you push the clutch in. Running a single mass flywheel (like the valeo kit, even though it weighs the same) will increase rollover noise. Running a lighter flywheel will do so also in most cases. I guess it's called "rollover" as it's the sound of the clutch/flywheel/transmission internals rotating freely (rolling over) without the car moving so you can hear it.

My RX-8 (all stock) had very noticeable rollover noise...went silent as soon as you pushed in the clutch. The 128i is much better, produces a little in stock form but nowhere near what I experienced in the Mazda for example..

markslc1 · 07-23-2020, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asbrr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

What's "rollover noise"?

That's the mechanical racket you can hear sometimes when say idling the car in neutral and clutch is out. Noise reduces greatly when you push the clutch in. Running a single mass flywheel (like the valeo kit, even though it weighs the same) will increase rollover noise. Running a lighter flywheel will do so also in most cases. I guess it's called "rollover" as it's the sound of the clutch/flywheel/transmission internals rotating freely (rolling over) without the car moving so you can hear it.

My RX-8 (all stock) had very noticeable rollover noise...went silent as soon as you pushed in the clutch. The 128i is much better, produces a little in stock form but nowhere near what I experienced in the Mazda for example..

Quote:

Originally Posted by asbrr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

What's "rollover noise"?

That's the mechanical racket you can hear sometimes when say idling the car in neutral and clutch is out. Noise reduces greatly when you push the clutch in. Running a single mass flywheel (like the valeo kit, even though it weighs the same) will increase rollover noise. Running a lighter flywheel will do so also in most cases. I guess it's called "rollover" as it's the sound of the clutch/flywheel/transmission internals rotating freely (rolling over) without the car moving so you can hear it.

My RX-8 (all stock) had very noticeable rollover noise...went silent as soon as you pushed in the clutch. The 128i is much better, produces a little in stock form but nowhere near what I experienced in the Mazda for example..

So you have the valeo installed now? How would you compare to the dual mass unit?

desertman123 · 07-23-2020, 01:38 PM

The one thing I have heard about the single mass, or perhaps it was just about the lightened flywheels, is that there can be a buzz at idle, in neutral, with the AC on.

Anyone experience this?

asbrr · 07-23-2020, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markslc1

So you have the valeo installed now? How would you compare to the dual mass unit?

Haha sorry, no, didn't mean to imply that. I will probably go with it when the time comes (my clutch chatters badly, pretty sure the flywheel has uneven wear).

Saw a video of this - here found the link:

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...87&postcount=2

asbrr · 07-23-2020, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertman123

The one thing I have heard about the single mass, or perhaps it was just about the lightened flywheels, is that there can be a buzz at idle, in neutral, with the AC on.

Anyone experience this?

Just posted a link to an example...see above post!

markslc1 · 08-02-2020, 09:23 PM

Finally got the clutch and flywheel off. Those pressure plate bolts would not budge and strip easily. Had to cut the heads off with an angle grinder.

Anyway here is what it all looks like

Clutch

View post on imgur.com

Flywheel

View post on imgur.com

Disk seems to be at 50% and other parts seem to have some discoloration. No scoring at all. Does this look like a setup that would slip badly once hot? I say that because previous e36 clutches of mine lasted till 150k. This one only has 70k on it.

07-11-2020, 01:40 AM	#1
markslc1 Lieutenant 183 Rep 536 Posts Drives: 2011 1M, 14 X5 x35i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Mill Creek, WA iTrader: (1)	Roasted my clutch at the drag strip 08 128i FBO. 70kmiles. I do autox and track days a few times per year. Lately I noticed the car was not necessarily pushing me back as hard on the 1-2 shift but generally solid pulling out of corners and auto crossing. I hit the strip for the first time in this car. First 3 runs felt great. On #4 when I hit second the revs rose fast but the car didn't pull. Switched to 3rd, same thing. Got out of the throttle and shifted to 4th and coasted out. I cooled the car down and drove home with no issues. Classic symptoms of needing a new clutch? Gear changes are smooth. Should I check anything else before assuming I need a clutch kit?
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07-11-2020, 05:35 AM	#2
b1aze Just one more taste... 566 Rep 2,011 Posts Drives: 2013 128i 6MT MSport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Uxbridge MA iTrader: (18)	If revs rose and speed didn’t, your clutch is slipping. Might as well drop in a LWFW while you’re in there
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07-11-2020, 07:50 PM	#5
markslc1 Lieutenant 183 Rep 536 Posts Drives: 2011 1M, 14 X5 x35i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Mill Creek, WA iTrader: (1)	I'm not into the lightweight flywheel thing. What about an updated disk or plate? Was reading that the 06 330i disk would be considered an upgrade of sorts.
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07-21-2020, 07:11 AM	#7
juld0zer Lieutenant Colonel 480 Rep 1,600 Posts Drives: Prev 135i 7DCT, Now 130i 6sp Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: 2153 iTrader: (0)	I would never put a SMF or lightweight flywheel in this car. The gearbox has quite a lot of rollover noise that will most likely become apparent after ditching the stock DMF
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07-21-2020, 08:43 AM	#8
markslc1 Lieutenant 183 Rep 536 Posts Drives: 2011 1M, 14 X5 x35i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Mill Creek, WA iTrader: (1)	I'm pulling the clutch out later this week. Found a local shop that resurfaces the dual mass flywheel. He did the flywheel on my last two M3's that were dual mass and had great results. Fingers crossed that my flywheel has no excessive play or cracked. .
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07-23-2020, 01:38 PM	#12
desertman123 E82 Mudflap Ambassador 2214 Rep 2,219 Posts Drives: '08 128i Join Date: May 2016 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 1992 Honda Beat [9.50] 2008 BMW 128i [10.00] 2014 BMW 528i [10.00]	The one thing I have heard about the single mass, or perhaps it was just about the lightened flywheels, is that there can be a buzz at idle, in neutral, with the AC on. Anyone experience this? __________________ My 2008 128i - Sparkling Graphite/Beige - Sport pkg - 6MT - Click me! Parents' 2014 528i - Mineral White/Ivory White - fully loaded Instagram @Andreys_128i and @Honda.Bito
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08-02-2020, 09:23 PM	#15
markslc1 Lieutenant 183 Rep 536 Posts Drives: 2011 1M, 14 X5 x35i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Mill Creek, WA iTrader: (1)	Next steps Finally got the clutch and flywheel off. Those pressure plate bolts would not budge and strip easily. Had to cut the heads off with an angle grinder. Anyway here is what it all looks like Clutch View post on imgur.com Flywheel View post on imgur.com Disk seems to be at 50% and other parts seem to have some discoloration. No scoring at all. Does this look like a setup that would slip badly once hot? I say that because previous e36 clutches of mine lasted till 150k. This one only has 70k on it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote